Identify this Months Mystery Spring Critter!!

[denise]

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/bear40f.jpg

Where did we spot this guy?

Post your thoughts/comments/answers.......

[denise]

Hi Adam,
Good job :armata_PDT_34:

Thats the polrs bear (head!) slright, sitting nice and happy down at 160' in forty Fathoms.......

See you for some diving soon,

Dinny

[denise]

This picture was taken earlier on this year...its an out-of-state spring......

One of our favorites springs.....

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Spring%20Cow.jpg

[Cleavitt]

Hmmm..I'll bet that cow is a hint. She looks like she is up to no good.

[denise]

Very good Chris.....no surprises that it is COW Crap Spring, in Murfreesburo, Tennessee.

This spring was discovered several years ago on a dairy farm, that is run by the Middle Tennessee State University. One of the professors working there realized that this sink never froze over, even during freezing air temperatures that often inflicted the area during Winter. Instead, this pond had steam rising from it during cold periods! Divers were invited in, and delighted with what they found.....

This spring has a basin is approximately 35 feet in depth, and has both and upstream and downstream tunnels leading to caves. There is about 1500 feet of line laid in the upstream passage(strong spring current), and very little in the downstream passages, due to a strong siphon. Flow is sometimes noticeable at the surface, having a characteristic "boil" appearance, and flow increases rapidly after heavy rains.

The fields surrounding this spring are filled with cows, that use the spring as a watering hole. Inevitably there are also large amounts of the springs namesake in the area!! Cows are very curious creatures and investigate divers, and often leave little "gifts" around cars and unattended dive gear :(

Tj and I set about exploring this cave in January this year, but due to STRONG flow we didn't get very far....we are planning a return trip this summer/autumn. Marbry Hardin and his dive buddies in Tennessee regularly dive this cave, and are the people that laid all the line in the upstream passage!

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/cowcrapjan08.jpg

[denise]

Last weekend we spotted a swamp monster in one of our well-dived springs....

He seemed to be eating lunch, happy out.

Can anyone guess which spring we saw him in?

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/chrisswamp1.jpg

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/chrisswamp2.jpg
Delicious and Nutritious!!

Pictures courtesy of Courtney Redfield

[Kevin]

Im not sure if that orange you are eating is any good...:eusa_naughty: Perhaps next time you should find a better grove when scavenging for fruit.

That picture is awesome.

[Cleavitt]

That is the most handsome swamp monster I have ever seen. I'm not sure about its eating habits though. :icon_lol:

[denise]

He was definitely one of the more slimmer swamp monsters I have seen!

Well said, Kevin, this months mystery critter was spotted at Orange Grove, in Peacock Springs State Park.

Orange Grove Sink is the biggest of eight sinks in Peacock Springs State Park, and leads to an extensive underwater cave system that has been surveyed to more than 28,000 feet. This sink is ~40 feet in depth and has two caverns. One drops down to 100 feet to the "rabbit hole", which extends down to 180? feet. The other cavern links to the main cave system, by way of Challenge Sink.

Orange Grove sink is usually very clear in winter time; however in warmer months, an algae bloom usually occurs due to increased water temperature, which causes a drop in visibility. Orange Grove sink is usually covered in duckweed year round......favourite food of swamp monsters :icon_smile:

[denise]

This little critter was photographed by Tj at Peacock Springs last week:

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/stickinsect.jpg

What is this guy?

Post your thoughts/comments/answers.......

[denise]

This months (deceased :icon_sad:) mystery critter was a STICK INSECT. There are more than 3000 species of stick insects worldwide, all belonging to the family: Phasmatodea. This name comes from the Greek “phanma” meaning apparition or phantom, which refers to the fact that many of the species resemble sticks or leaves. Other common names for these bugs are walking sticks, stick bugs, ghost insects and leaf insects. Their natural camouflage can make them extremely difficult to spot, blending in perfectly with bark, leaves and lichens.

Some stick insects are easy to care for, and make good pets! Almost 300 different species have been kept successfully in captivity!

Stick insects live in forests, marshes and in vegetation around springs. This little critter either died and fell into the spring, or drowned in the water….:102:

Here is a live specimen: making himself at home on TJs wetsuit....
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2008_sep_8/DSC00313.jpg

[denise]

This months mystery spring critter is a resident of Peacock Springs:

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/janetrodent.jpg

Any thoughts/ideas?

Photo courtesy of Janet Stape (http://www.peacocksprings.com/)

[Kevin]

An otter at P1?

[denise]

Very close Kevin, but this guy is a Florida Water Rat (Thanks TJ :) ), aka a Florida Round Tailed Muskrat.

These guys live in freshwater marshes and springs in peninsular Florida and southeast Georgia. They build small dens at the surface of the water, that have two underwater entrances called plunge holes. Muskrats are usually nocturnal, they emerge from their dens at night to search out and eat aquatic grasses.

Muskrats are one of many mammals living in Florida. Most populations of large mammals have suffered as human populations increased and encroached further and further into their habitats. There are an increasing number of mammals at Florida's freshwater springs these days, mainly due to the fact that a lot of springs and the areas surrounding them are now protected. Many mammals find sanctuary at the springs, using them as a dependable source of shelter, food, freshwater or mates! Even the legendary Florida panther (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=579) has been spotted at one of our favorite and well used dive sites! Other animals regularly spotted (not always visible to the casual observer) are Black Bears (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=581), Bobcats (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=580), Rabbits (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=576), Armadillos (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=582), Deer (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=577) and Foxes (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=578)!

[denise]

This chirpy little family were spotted at Wakulla Springs recently:

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/somebirdsagnes1.jpg
Photo courtesy of Agnes Milowka (www.AgnesMilowka.com)

Any idea of what they are?

[denise]

This little family of birds seen at Wakulla Springs are Common Moorhens (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?p=1744#post1744), correctly identified by James......

Read more (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?p=1744#post1744) about these common spring inhabitants in our Spring Life Section.......

[denise]

Any idea what this guy is??? He/she was spotted in the Ginnie Springs river run recently..........

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/unidedturtleagnes.jpg

Photo courtesy of Agnes Milowka (www.AgnesMilowka.com)

and seen again on a Fish Awareness Dive (as part of his Advanced Open Water Course) by Steven Plyer aka Supersport136 (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/member.php?u=225)

http://www.dayo.com/fishid/turtlerunginnie.jpg

[Arctic Mike]

:102:

[denise]

Close Mike, but this guy is actually a Loggerhead Musk Turtle.

The Loggerhead Musk Turtle, Sternotherus minor, is found throughout Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and central Florida in freshwater springs, spring runs, swamps and creeks.

They are air-breathing reptiles, returning to the surface periodically to fill their lungs with air. They can remain underwater for extended periods of time, and dive to depths of up to 15 feet!

As turtles go, they are quite small, reaching lengths of 5 or so inches.

Young Loggerhead musk turtles feed on insects; adults eat snails and clams, which they crush with their wide jaws.

Loggerheads produce a nasty smelling musk, and juveniles are even capable of expelling musk before they hatch from their eggs!

Read more about some of their close relatives: the Florida softshell turtle (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=518), the red eared slider turtle (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=393), and the Suwanee cooter turtle (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=389).

[denise]

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/blackbanddarter_1kevinredfield.jpg

This little guys was photographed by Kevin Redfield (aka scblade27 (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/member.php?u=6)) at Alexander Springs in October last year......

Any ideas of what he is?

[Arctic Mike]

:102:

[denise]

Close.......he is a member of the Darter family, but he is not a gold stripe......

[Arctic Mike]

Then surely he is a Blackbanded Darter :armata_PDT_34:

[denise]

Very good Mike, this guys was indeed a black banded darter!

The darter family are a group of approximately 140 species of freshwater fish of the perch family. Most are native to North America, east of the Rocky Mountains. These fish usually live on the bottom of fast-flowing streams and feed on small animals and fish eggs. One endangered species of darter, the snail darter, gained considerable public attention when an environmentalist suit caused the United States Supreme Court to delay the construction of Tellico Dam in the Tennessee River basin in the late 1970's.

Learn more about darters here........ (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?p=1871#post1871)

[denise]

This guy was photographed by Tj at Deleon Springs during a class in December.....

http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2008_dec_22/PC223591.jpg

Any idea what he is?

[molly]

Is it a yellow bellied slider?

[Kevin]

a fuzzy green-backed turtle?

[denise]

Very good Molly, this months mystery critter was a yellow bellied slider turtle (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?p=2623#post2623).

These little critters are very common in Florida's freshwater systems, mainly due to deliberate release by pet owners. They are very resilient and can live for more than 25 years.....

Read more about them in our new article in the Spring Life Forum: Yellow bellied slider turtles (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?p=2623#post2623)

[denise]

This guy is a back shot of a well known spring fish:

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/mysteryspringcritter_1.jpg

Any ideas what he is?

Photo taken at Cow Springs, North Florida by tj

[Scubastud16]

Alligator gar?

[denise]

Very good Danny, this months Mystery Spring Critter was indeed a alligator gar. Here is a picture of how divers normally see gars:

http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2009_mar_26/P1015018.jpg

Our previous shot was a back view showing mainly his tail..........

Bob Rosell saw (and photographed) a rare sighting recently in Blue Springs, a longnose gar eating a Pocostamus (non-native catfish!):

http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/gallery/files/8/bs__48.jpg

Some interesting facts about alligator gars:
- Unlike other gars alligator gars are capable of breathing air and can survive for more than two hours out of water!

- Alligator gars are the largest species of gar and is the largest freshwater fish in North America. they can grow to 8-12 feet in length and weigh in at 100 pounds when fully grown!

- Due to their large size they have very few natural predators....mainly alligators and humans

To see more pictures and read more about Gars (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=404) check out our Spring Life Forum (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23&order=desc)!

[denise]

This rarely sighted critter was photographed in the run at Blue Springs last weekend.

http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2009_mar_15/P1014546.jpg

Any ideas what he/she is?

Here is a closer shot:

http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2009_mar_15/P1014548.jpg

[DixieDolphin]

I'm not as good with freshwater critters as with marine, but I think that's a Bowfin. Maybe?

[denise]

Very good Laurel (and Danny and Jeremy!), this little guy is indeed a bowfin (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=377). Bowfins are the last remaining species of a very ancient group of fish. Along with gar (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=404), these two species have survived, almost unchanged from their original body form, since the dinosaurs roamed the earth!

Bowfins are found throughout eastern North America, in slow-moving ponds, lakes and springs. They have a very unique ability for dealing with oxygen poor water.....

Read more about bowfins here (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=377)

http://www.dayo.com/fishid/bowfinmyster_1.jpg
Bowfin in Alexander Springs

[denise]

This school of fish were recently spotted in a spring in Tallahassee....

http://www.dayo.com/fishid/stripedbass_111.jpg

Any ideas what they are?

[DixieDolphin]

This school of fish were recently spotted in a spring in Tallahassee....

http://www.dayo.com/fishid/stripedbass_111.jpg

Any ideas what they are?

Looks like Striped Bass. (Incidentally, that's also the filename on the image.. which kinda gives it away, too.) :icon_lol:

[danherbon]

lol :)

[denise]

Ooops :086:

Another one coming soon

[denise]

Here is a little guy we saw at Troy Springs, North Florida.....

http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/gallery/files/1/mysteryspringcritter_1.jpg

Any idea what he/she is?

[SPLzero]

river goby?

[denise]

Close...not quite....

[denise]

This months mystery critter was a chub (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=1224), a close relative of the carp.

There are many different types of chubs, and most species are difficult to tell apart, so this new article outlines some basic chub features, for example, they don't have regular teeth, instead they have "throat teeth!".

Read more in the new chub (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=1224) article in our Spring Life Section......

[denise]

The distinctive tracks of this little critter, were spotted at Ginnie recently....

http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/tracksofmysterycritter_1.jpg
Photo by Bill Huth

Any idea what made these marks?

[denise]

This little guy had quite a story to tell after a recent "epic" dive he made at Ginnie Springs!

Read more here! (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?p=4086#post4086)